Notre Dame Adds Global Saints Icons to Basilica
The Global Saints Initiative will place saint icons from five continents inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in South Bend.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Catholicism
Notre Dame Campus Ministry announced the Global Saints Initiative on November 1, which will install icons of saints inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The icons depict saints from five continents and nine countries and were funded by a gift from Jay and Mary Flaherty.
Why it matters
The saints were chosen to reflect the diverse vocations, cultures, and backgrounds of today's campus community and the wider Church. For South Bend residents, the project adds a new dimension to the Basilica, a landmark of the city's Catholic life.
The initiative spans 5 continents and 9 countries, with the icons scheduled for installation in January 2027. A one-credit course titled Global Saints will accompany the project in spring 2027, though the full list of saints has not been released.
The players
University of Notre Dame
A private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, founded in 1842 and known for its strong ties to the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.
Longtime president of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987, widely recognized for his influence on American higher education and civil rights advocacy.
The details
The icons will be displayed on columns inside the nave of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Notre Dame's Global Catholic Research Initiative will offer a one-credit course titled Global Saints, taught by Kathleen Sprows Cummings and Anna Katharina Rudolph, inviting students to analyze how saints have served as sites of cultural encounter.
Timeline
November 1: Campus Ministry announces the Global Saints Initiative on All Saints' Day.
January 2027: Icons scheduled for installation in the Basilica.
Spring 2027: Global Saints one-credit course offered through the History department.
Legacy and Lineage
The project extends the institutional legacy of Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, who led Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987, through a gift from his niece Mary Flaherty. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, approximately 140 years old, now serves as the setting for a global expansion of Catholic devotional art.
Visitors to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart will be able to view the saint icons from five continents once they are installed in January 2027. Students and community members interested in the subject may take the one-credit Global Saints course in spring 2027.
The takeaway
The Global Saints Initiative shows how a single local landmark can reflect a worldwide Catholic community. Readers interested in devotional art and campus life can follow the January 2027 installation as it unfolds.
What happens next
The icons are scheduled for installation in the Basilica in January 2027, and the Global Saints course will be offered in spring 2027.
Further reading
Explore more Catholicism coverage to see how faith communities in South Bend are shaping local life.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Notre Dame News.
